Beaker

ABSTRACT

A description is given of a carton ( 10 ) for producing a soft-ice mixture or the like which is frozen into a block. The carton has a circular base ( 12 ). Extending from the base ( 12 ) to an opening of the carton ( 10 ) is a lateral surface ( 18 ) which, at the opening, merges into a radially outwardly extending periphery ( 20 ). The carton ( 10 ), overall, is designed such that it can be taken apart for removal of the block by hand. For this purpose, a lid ( 22 ), which can be welded to the periphery ( 20 ), comprises a panel ( 22 ″) which, following welding to the periphery ( 20 ), cannot be detached from the carton ( 10 ) without being destroyed. The lateral surface ( 18 ) has a tear-open strip ( 27 ) at a distance beneath the periphery, preferably approximately two thirds of the way up the carton ( 10 ). This ensures that the carton ( 10 ) is used, as envisaged, as a disposable carton, that is to say it is actually used only once and then disposed of.

The invention relates to a beaker of the type described in the preamble of claim 1.

When producing soft ice cream or similar products such as fruit creams, mousses, or stuffings for pies and terrines, a liquid parent mixture is frozen in a working beaker that typically consists of stainless steel. Then the working beaker with the frozen parent mixture block is inserted into a known household appliance (CH 685 321 A5) in which a rotating knife grinds the block by chipping, scraping, cutting and/or beating. Various stock mixtures of ice cream, fruit or the like can be produced using multiple such working beakers and then stored in a freezer until final processing. It is a disadvantage that such stainless steel containers are relatively expensive. For hygienic reasons and—due to the rotating knife—for safety reasons, only the use of stainless steel working beakers is permitted in the restaurant and catering business. In addition, typical cooks do not fully utilize the possibilities that the known device offers, mostly because they shy away from the additional work of having to proactively produce a stock of blocks of deep frozen parent material for making soft ice cream or the like. Moreover, cooks often do not know suitable recipes.

The problem to be addressed by the invention is to remedy this situation.

A beaker in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 is provided according to the invention with the features definded in the characterizing portion of claim 1.

In the beaker according to the invention, the barrel at the opening merges into a radially outwardly extending rim for fastening a lid. An additional barrel or jacket portion provided beneath the rim on the working beaker of the known device that is required for chucking the working beaker into an insulation insert is not present in the beaker according to the invention. The height of the beaker according to the invention substantially matches the nominal filling level plus an additional 10 mm or so, which accounts for the fact that the content of the beaker will expand in height by about 10 mm during freezing. The beaker according to the invention is designed as a genuine disposable beaker that is not meant to be inserted into the known device, neither into its working beaker nor into its insulation insert. The known device should continue to be operated exclusively with stainless steel working beakers as common in the restaurant and catering business. The beaker according to the invention is manually taken apart for removing the block. The block taken out of the beaker is then inserted into a working beaker of the device for further processing. It is essential for the invention that the beaker for this purpose is designed such that it can effortlessly be taken apart by hand. The beaker according to the invention can be produced at less cost since it does not have to be made of stainless steel. It extends the applications of the known device since the parent blocks can be produced at a central location where also sufficient recipes are available. The beaker and its content can conveniently be delivered to the decentralized device by regular shipping.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter defined in the dependent claims.

If, in an embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, at least the barrel or jacket of the beaker comprises at least one pre-weakened line for disassembly, at least the barrel can be taken apart without effort after taking off the lid to remove the frozen block.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, a pre-weakened line of the barrel runs helically between the base and the opening, the barrel can effortlessly be unwrapped from the frozen block after taking off the lid.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, multiple pre-weakened lines of the barrel run in parallel to the central axis between the base and the opening, the beaker can be effortlessly dilated in the region of the barrel by tearing it open along these pre-weakened lines so that the block can easily be removed.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, a pre-weakened line of the barrel extends at the transition from the barrel to the base, the base can effortlessly be detached from the barrel for removing the block. If this should not be sufficient to remove the block effortlessly, additional pre-weakened lines present in the barrel can optionally be used to take the barrel further apart.

If, in yet another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the rim is designed so that it can be welded to a lid, it is ensured that the beaker according to the invention is a disposable beaker in compliance with hygiene regulations.

If, in yet another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the lid that can be welded to the rim consists of a film, it should be substantially ensured that the disposable beaker is indeed just used once.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the lid that can be welded to the rim consists of a panel which, after being welded to the rim, cannot be detached from the beaker without being destroyed, it should be ensured with even greater certainty that the disposable beaker is indeed just used once.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the barrel comprises at least one pre-weakened line that runs in parallel to the base at a distance beneath the rim, preferably about two thirds of the way up the beaker, along which the portion of the barrel that is adjacent to the lid and the lid itself can be detached from the rest of the barrel, preferably one third of the beaker is removed when it is opened, ensuring with even greater certainty that the disposable beaker is indeed just used once, in compliance with hygiene regulations.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the barrel comprises two pre-weakened lines that run in parallel to the base at a distance beneath the rim, preferably at about two thirds of the way up the beaker, and form a tear-open strip along the circumference of the barrel, preferably one third of the beaker can effortlessly be removed from the other two thirds.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the tear-open strip is provided with a tongue that protrudes from the circumference of the barrel and can be grabbed with a person's fingers, the beaker can be opened without an effort.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the beaker comprises a rim onto which the lid can be snapped, the beaker can be opened with less effort.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the beaker consists of a synthetic material that is suitable for food contact applications and resistant to cold temperatures, manufacturing the beaker is particularly simple using proven plastics engineering processes.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the beaker consists of a paper or cardboard material that is suitable for food contact applications and resistant to cold temperatures, manufacturing the beaker is particularly simple using common paper engineering processes.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the base and the barrel are designed as adjacent separate parts, production and/or disassembly of the beaker can be made particularly utile.

If, in an embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the base comprises at least one knob-type indentation, the parent material block removed from a beaker according to the invention can be inserted into a working beaker of the known device that comprises at least one matching knob-type indentation. In this way, twisting of the block in the working beaker during grinding can be prevented in a simple manner.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the base comprises three circular cam-like indentations the centers of which are equidistant on an imagined circle around the central axis of the beaker, the frozen block can be inserted in a twist-proof manner into a working beaker that comprises complementary knob-type indentations.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the one, or each, knob-type indentation has a radial distance from the central axis of the beaker that equals half the radius of the circular base, the maximum twist-proof design can be achieved in the working beaker of the known device if the knob-type indentations of the working beaker are not smaller than the ones in the beaker according to the invention.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the beaker comprises at least one radial protrusion or the like on the outside of the barrel between the bottom side of the rim and the base to prevent the insertion of the beaker into a beaker of similar size, it is ensured that the beaker according to the invention cannot intentionally or inadvertently inserted into a regular working beaker of the known device.

If, in another embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, the barrel of the beaker widens steadily and conically from the base towards the opening, the block can easily be removed from the beaker. In particular, it will not be necessary to take the beaker completely apart to be able to remove the block.

Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the enclosed figures below. Wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a beaker according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the beaker according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows enlarged details of the beaker according to the invention labeled IIIa and IIIb, respectively, in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section view of a second embodiment of the beaker according to the invention that preferably consists of a paper or cardboard material; and

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a beaker according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a lateral or top view, respectively, of a first embodiment, labeled 10 as a whole, of a beaker 10 according to the invention that is designed for producing and shipping a soft ice cream mixture or the like that has been frozen into a block. The beaker 10 has a circular base 12 through the centre of which a central axis 14 of the beaker extends. A continually conically widening barrel or jacket 18 extends from the base 12 to an opening 16 of the beaker 10. The parent material block (not shown) frozen and shipped in the beaker 10 is meant for being inserted for further processing into the working beaker of a known device of the type described at the outset. The inner contour of the beaker 10 and thus the outer contour of the block should therefore substantially match the inner contour of such a working beaker. If the working beaker considered has a cylindrical inner contour, the beaker 10 should be similarly shaped, i.e. comprise a cylindrical barrel rather than the barrel (18) that widens conically.

The barrel 18 merges into a radially outwardly extending, flange-like even rim 20 at the opening 16 at the upper end of the beaker 10. The rim 20 is meant for fastening a lid 22 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The rim 20 is designed so that it can be welded to a metal or plastic film 22′ (not shown in FIG. 2) that forms the lid 22, as is common with yogurt containers or the like. For this purpose, the upper annular surface of the rim 20 has a special design or coating that ensures suitable welding, sealing or bonding.

Overall, the beaker 10 according to the invention is designed such that it can be taken apart manually for removing the block. The notion “can be taken apart manually” primarily means that it can be taken apart without using a tool. In an embodiment of the invention, the barrel 18 is provided with at least one pre-weakened line 24 or 26 as indicated in FIG. 1 for taking the beaker 10 apart. The pre-weakened line 24 of the barrel 18 extends helically between the base 12 and the opening 16. FIG. 3 b shows an enlarged detail of the beaker 10 that is labeled IIIb in FIG. 1. It can be seen in FIG. 3 b that the pre-weakened line 24 of the barrel 18 has the shape of a V groove 28. The beaker 10 can easily be split by hand where the groove 28 extends. The groove 28 is arranged and shaped in such a way that the beaker 10 in its initial state comprises sufficient strength and stiffness for producing the deep-frozen parent mixture and for shipping the deep-frozen block of parent mixture. The same applies to the material selection for producing the base 12 and the barrel 18. The material selected for the beaker 10 can be plastics as used for common yogurt containers or the like. Instead of, or in addition to, the helical pre-weakened line 24, the barrel 18 may comprise pre-weakened lines 26 that run parallel to the central axis 14 of the beaker 10. Like the pre-weakened line 24, the pre-weakened lines 26 can be grooves with a V-shaped cross section just like the groove 28. The pre-weakened lines 24 and 26 also extend along the bottom side of the rim 20 so that it can be manually separated as easily as the rest of the barrel 18. Like the pre-weakened line 24, the pre-weakened lines 26 extend between the base 12 and the opening 16 of the beaker 10. The base 12 typically does not have to be taken apart for removing the frozen block. It is usually sufficient to provide a pre-weakened line 30 of the barrel 18 that extends at the transition from the barrel 18 to the base 12. FIG. 3 a shows an enlarged detail of the beaker 10 that is labeled 111 a in FIG. 1. According to FIG. 3 a, the wall of the barrel 18 can have a V-shaped cross section where it merges into the base 12. Instead, GV-shaped groove such as groove 28 could be provided between the barrel 18 and the base 12 to form the pre-weakened line 30.

Every plastic suitable for food contact applications and of suitable strength is functionally suitable for producing the beaker 10. Instead, or in addition, the beaker may also consist of a paper or cardboard material suitable for food contact applications. A second embodiment of a beaker according to the invention made of a paper or cardboard material is referenced as 40 in its entirety and shown in FIG. 4. In the beaker 40, a base 12′ a barrel 18′ are formed as separate parts that are sealingly joined together, e.g. by bonding or welding. In the region of the opening 16, the barrel 18′ does not form an even rim but is rolled up so that a lid 22′ can be snapped onto the beaker 40. Accordingly, the barrel 18′ can be rolled inwards at its bottom for fastening the base 12′ to it.

The base 12 and the base 12′ each comprise at least one knob-type indentation. In the embodiment shown, there are three knob-type indentations 32, 33, and 34. The knob-type indentations 32-34 have a circular cross section. Their centers are arranged at an equal distance in an imagined circle around the central axis 14 of the beaker 10 or 40, respectively. The one, or each, knob-type indentation is at a radial distance r from the central axis 14 of the beaker that is half the radius R of the circular base 12 or 12′, respectively. The knob-type indentations 32-34 are provided if the block is meant for use in a working beaker of a newer generation of the known device that also comprises such knob-type indentations.

The beaker 10 has a radial protrusion 36 on the outside of the barrel 18 between the bottom side of the rim 20 and the base 12. The protrusion 36 is to prevent that the beaker 10 is inserted into a working beaker or an insulating insert that usually holds the working beaker of the known device. For safety and hygiene reasons, the known device is only to be used with a working beaker made of stainless steel in the restaurant and catering business. The beaker 10 according to the invention would not be suitable for this purpose since its nominal filling level plus the additional approximately 10 mm in height mentioned above leave no room on top of the nominal filling level plus the additional approximately 10 mm in height for using the rotating knife or the like of the known device. Instead of the flange-like protrusion 36, the barrel 18′ of the beaker can be provided with an outwardly protruding bulge or the like. This solution is particularly suited for the beaker 40 that consists of a paper or cardboard material.

The beaker 10 is produced from plastics using common processes such as injection molding or thermoforming. The beaker 40, however, is produced like a container used for hot beverages such as coffee and the like, e.g. by wrapping the barrel 18′ into which the base 12′ is then inserted from above and sealingly joined on its inside with the barrel 18′. The base 12′ of the beaker 40 has the same knob-type, downward-protruding indentations as the indentations 32-34 of the beaker 10, so there is no need to describe them again with reference to beaker 40.

Furthermore, the beaker 40 can be provided with the same pre-weakened lines 24 and/or 26 as the beaker 10 to make it easier to take the beaker 40 apart. In a paper or cardboard material, the pre-weakened lines would not be grooves with a V-shaped cross section but functionally suitable “perforations” that do not completely cut through the wall of the barrel 18′ or the base 12′. In other words, these lines would be formed by dotted indentations that do not fully penetrate the material.

FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of a third embodiment of the beaker according to the invention, referenced as 10 in its entirety, that is also preferably made of plastics like the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in the beaker 10 according to FIG. 5, the lid 22 that can be welded to the rim 20 is not a film 22′ but a panel 22″ which, after being welded to the rim 20, cannot be detached from the beaker 10 without being destroyed. The panel may consist of the same material as the rest of the beaker but, as a precaution, is somewhat thicker than the rest of the beaker. It should be ensured at any rate that the panel 22″ cannot be detached from the rim after welding, not even when using a suitable tool, without destroying the beaker in this area. In the beaker 10 according to FIG. 5, the barrel 18 comprises at least one pre-weakened line 27 a beneath the rim 20 and approximately two thirds of the way up the beaker 10, and extending in parallel to the base 12, along which the portion of the barrel 18 that is adjacent to the lid 22 and the lid 22″ can be detached from the rest of the barrel 18. To make detachment easier, the barrel 18 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 comprises two pre-weakened lines 27 a, 27 b in parallel to the base 12 and approximately two thirds of the way up the beaker 10 beneath the rim 20 that form a tear-open strip 27 extending along the circumference of the barrel 18. The tear-open strip 27 is provided with a tongue 29 that protrudes from the circumference of the barrel 18 and can be grabbed with a person's fingers. The barrel 18 is closed beneath the tongue 29 along the pre-weakened lines 27 a, 27 b as long as the tongue 29 is not pulled with some force. The pre-weakened lines 27 a, 27 b can be formed like the pre-weakened lines 24 or 30 according to FIG. 3 b or 3 a, respectively. If the upper portion of the beaker 10 and the lid 22 have been detached from the rest of the beaker 10 using the tear-open strip 27, the remaining portion of the beaker 10 is of such a low height that it can no longer be used for the purpose envisaged here. The embodiment of the beaker 10 according to FIG. 5 is the best to ensure that the beaker 10 is indeed used as a disposable beaker, i.e. just once, ensuring compliance with hygiene regulations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   10, 40 beaker -   12, 12′ base -   14 central axis -   16 opening -   18, 18′ barrel -   20, 20′ rim -   22 lid -   22′ film -   22″ panel -   24 pre-weakened line -   26 pre-weakened line -   27 tear-open strip -   27 a, 27 b pre-weakened line -   28 groove -   30 pre-weakened line -   32 indentation -   33 indentation -   34 indentation -   36 protrusion -   r distance -   R radius 

1. A beaker for producing a soft ice cream-mixture frozen into a block or the like, comprising: a circular base through the center of which a central axis of the beaker extends, a barrel extending from the base to an opening of the beaker that merges into a radially outwardly extending rim; and wherein the beaker is generally designed such that it can be taken apart by hand for removal of the block.
 2. The beaker according to claim 1, wherein at least the barrel is provided with at least one pre-weakened line for taking apart the beaker.
 3. The beaker according to claim 2, wherein the pre-weakened line of the barrel extends helically between the base and the opening.
 4. The beaker according to claim 2, characterized in that further comprising multiple pre-weakened lines of the barrel which extend in parallel to the central axis between the base and the opening.
 5. The beaker according to claim 2, further comprising a pre-weakened line of the barrel which extends at the transition from the barrel to the base.
 6. The beaker according to claim 1 wherein the rim is designed such that it can be welded to a lid.
 7. The beaker according to claim 6, comprising: a film included as the lid that can be welded to the rim.
 8. The beaker according to claim 6, wherein the lid that is welded to the rim includes a panel which, after being welded to the rim, cannot be detached from the beaker without being destroyed.
 9. The beaker according to claim 8, comprising at least one pre-weakened line beneath the rim and approximately two thirds of the way up the beaker, and extending in parallel to the base, along which the portion of the barrel that is adjacent to the lid and the lid can be detached from the rest of the barrel.
 10. The beaker according to claim 9, comprising two pre-weakened lines beneath the rim and preferably approximately two thirds of the way up the beaker, and extending in parallel to the base, that form a tear-open strip extending along the circumference of the barrel.
 11. The beaker according to claim 10, comprising a tongue included as part of the tear open strip; wherein the tongue protrudes from the circumference of the barrel and is able to be grabbed by a person's fingers.
 12. The beaker according to claim 1, further comprising a lid that is able to be snapped onto the rim.
 13. The beaker according to claim 1, wherein the beaker is formed, at least in part, of a plastic that is suitable for food contact applications and resistant to cold temperatures.
 14. The beaker according claim 1, that wherein the beaker is formed, at least in part, of a paper or cardboard material that is suitable for food contact applications and resistant to cold temperatures.
 15. The beaker according to claim 1 wherein the base and the barrel are formed as joined, separate parts.
 16. The beaker according to claim 1 wherein the base (12, 12′) includes at least one knob-type indentation (32).
 17. The beaker according to claim 16, wherein the base includes three knob-type indentations with a circular cross section, and in which the centers of said indentations are arranged equidistantly on an imagined circle around the central axis of the beaker.
 18. The beaker according to claim 16, wherein at least one knob-type indentation is at a radial distance from the central axis of the beaker that equals half the radius of the circular base.
 19. The beaker according to claim 1 comprising at least one radial protrusion arranged on the outside of the barrel between the bottom of the rim and the base to prevent the beaker from fitting into a beaker of a similar size.
 20. The beaker according to claim 1 wherein the barrel of the beaker widens steadily and conically from the base towards the opening. 